adjective
Uncommon
commonplace
KO-muhn-plays
Commonplace (adjective) means Ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy. Example: “Smartphones are so commonplace now that few people remember life without them.”
adjective
1
Ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy.
"Smartphones are so commonplace now that few people remember life without them."
noun
1
A remark or idea that has become dull and predictable from overuse; a cliché.
"His speech was full of commonplaces about hard work and dreams."
How to use commonplace
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething so ordinary it barely registers — either an everyday occurrence or a tired, overused phrase.
Common pairings
a commonplace occurrence
commonplace remark
become commonplace
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Word forms
- Plural
- commonplaces
- Third person singular
- commonplaces
- Past tense
- commonplaced
- Comparative
- more commonplace
- Superlative
- most commonplace
Fill the gap
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Smartphones are so _____ now that few people remember life without them.
Etymology
A translation of the Latin phrase locus communis, itself borrowed from the Ancient Greek koinos topos, both meaning roughly "a shared point" used in classical rhetoric.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for commonplace
See all rhymes for commonplace →Frequently asked questions
What does “commonplace” mean?
The word “commonplace” means ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy. In plain terms, something so ordinary it barely registers — either an everyday occurrence or a tired, overused phrase.
How do you pronounce “commonplace”?
“Commonplace” is pronounced KO-muhn-plays (/ˈkɑmənˌpleɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “commonplace” in a sentence?
Here is “commonplace” used in a sentence: “Smartphones are so commonplace now that few people remember life without them.”
What part of speech is “commonplace”?
Depending on how it is used, “commonplace” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “commonplace” come from?
The word “commonplace” comes from Ancient Greek. A translation of the Latin phrase locus communis, itself borrowed from the Ancient Greek koinos topos, both meaning roughly "a shared point" used in classical rhetoric.
Is “commonplace” a common word?
“Commonplace” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “commonplace” have?
“Commonplace” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy.
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